Knockdown crate



(No Model.)

J. J. HERBERT.

KNOGK'IDOWN CRATE.

No. 442,225. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN .T. HERBERT, OF GHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,225, dated December9,1890. Application filed September 11, 1890. Serial No. 364,600. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. HERBERT, of Chattanooga, Hamilton county,Tennessee, have inventedanew and useful Improvement in Shipping Cases orCrates; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, andexact description of the same, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it relates to make and use the invention, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in shipping cases or crates; andit consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices,that will be more fully set forthhereinafter, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of ashipping-case embodying my improvements. Fi 2 is a side elevation of thesame, partly in section. Fig. 3 is partly an end view and partly asection. Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed views.

The bottom A of the case or crate has crosscleats 13 at its ends and asimilar cleat at its center. The ends of these cleats project asufficient distance from the sides of the bottom and are sheathed withmetallic plates 0 to prevent Wear. The sides I) of the case are providedwith vertical cleats E, which are securely nailed or screwed thereon,and said cleats E project at their upper and lower ends, as shown, andare provided with sheath boxes or extensions F, made of sheet metal andadapted to receive the ends of the cleats on the bottom and top of thecrate when the same is assembled, as will be presently described.Rabbets G are cut on the inner sides of the end cleats E at suitablepoints near their upper and lower ends.

The ends 11 of the case or crate are adapted to fit between top andsides and are provided with transverse horizontal cleats I, the ends ofwhich project sufficiently to lap over the end edges of the sides D, andsaid cleats I have their ends covered with metallic straps K, which arebent in the form of a right angle and have their ends, which project atright angles from the cleats I, provided on their lower edges withnotches L, whereby they constitute hooks, and the said notches areadapted to engage nails or pins M, which pass centrally across therabbets G of cleats E.

The top M of the case or crate is provided with transverse cleats N atits ends and center. The said cleats have one end sheathed with plates0, adapted to enter the upper sheath boxes or extensions F of the cleatsE on one side of the case or crate, and at the other ends of the cleatsN are plates P, having pairs of cars R, bent at right angles, which earsdepend from the ends of the cleats and are adapted to receive the upperends of the proximate cleats E. In said cleats E and in the said earsare made aligned openings S, adapted to receive pins T or other suitablefastening devices to secure the top firmly in place. I prefer to employwires U, passed through said openings in the said cleats and ears, andseals V to secure the ends of the wires together, and when thus securedthe crate is not likely to be opened by a dishonest person duringtransit, and the seals would first have to be destroyed, and the factwould be betrayed.

It will be understood that the crate or shipping-case is capable ofbeing readily taken to pieces and packed in a very small compass whenbeing returned to the shipper, thereby saving freight charges.

The cleats employed on the bottom, top, sides, and ends of the craterender the same very strong and durable, and hence the said bottom, top,sides and ends may be made of very thin boards, thus effecting aconsiderable economy in the manufacture of the crate, and also makingthe same very light, and hence lessening the freight charges thereonwhen in transportation. The boxes F are provided on their inner sides attheir ends with shoulders \V, which are engaged by lips X, formed byturning out the ends of the plates 0 0. These shoulders and lips serveto more firmly secure the cleats together at their joints.

Having thus claim- 1. In a crate or case, the surrounding cleats adaptedto be attached respectively to the bottom, sides, and top, said cleatsbeing provided at their meeting ends with the metallic extensions orboxes l having the shouldescribed my invention, I

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ders \V, and the plates 0, having the lips X ed to enter the rabbets G,and having notches to engage said shoulders, all arranged to 0p- L toengage the pins or nails M, whereby the erate substantially asdescribed. ends are secured in place, substantially as de- 2. In a caseor crate having the. detachable scribed. I 5 top, bottom, sides, andends, the surrounding In testimony that I claim the foregoing I cleats BE M, having the fastening devices append my signature. at their meetingends, said cleats E being T further provided with the rabbets G and theJOHA HERBER pins or nails M passing through them, and Witnesses: 10 theends having the cleats I, with right-angled. A. C. FINE,

straps K at their ends, said straps being adapt- J. M. HUNTER.

